Japanese sword mountings, Tsuba (Guard), flowering cherry, Sennin design - stock illustration

Vintage engraving of Japanese sword mountings, Tsuba (Guard), flowering cherry, Sennin design. The tsuba is usually a guard at the end of the grip of bladed Japanese weapons, like the katana and its various variations, tachi, wakizashi, tanto, naginata etc. They contribute to the balance of the weapon and to the protection of the hand.